Indian Hockey Squad for 8th Men's Asian Champions Trophy

The 8th Men's Asian Champions Trophy will be held in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China, from September 8-17, 2024. The tournament features six top Asian teams: India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and hosts China.

Tournament Overview

The 8th Men's Asian Champions Trophy will be held in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China, from September 8 to 17, 2024.
Six top Asian teams will compete: India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and the hosts.
The tournament follows a round-robin format, with semifinals and finals scheduled for September 16-17.
India is the defending champion, having won the previous edition in Chennai in 2023.
This is India's first major tournament after winning bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Indian Squad Composition

An 18-member squad has been announced, blending youth and experience.

Captain: Harmanpreet Singh (drag-flicker)
Vice-captain: Vivek Sagar Prasad (midfielder)
Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera
Experienced defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh
Midfield core: Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Manpreet Singh
Young forwards: Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh
New faces: Gurjot Singh (forward) is set to make his international debut

Team Changes and Strategy

Only ten players from the Paris Olympics squad have been retained.
Hardik Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Shamsher Singh, Gurjant Singh
Marks the first tournament without veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who retired after the Olympics.
Coach Craig Fulton emphasizes the importance of building ranking points and dominating in Asia.
Focus on providing opportunities to younger players while maintaining a competitive edge.

Tournament Schedule and Significance

India's campaign against China starts on September 8.
Japan (Sept 9), Malaysia (Sept 11), Korea (Sept 12), Pakistan (Sept 14)
The India vs Pakistan clash on September 14 is highlighted as a marquee event.
The tournament serves as the beginning of the new Olympic cycle for the Indian team.
Aims to extend recent success and build momentum for future international challenges.

About Asian Hockey Federation

The Asian Hockey Federation, founded in 1958, governs hockey in Asia with 31 member countries.
Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The federation is affiliated with the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The Men's Champions Trophy is a prestigious six-nation tournament featuring top-ranked Asian teams.

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